JP2016010051A - Information setting device and information gathering system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow a user to perform correct setting by simple input operation, by skillful use of the remote control code data.SOLUTION: An information setting device 300 includes user interface means 310 for designating depression of a key provided in a remote controller 100, and receiving a signal transmitted by depressing the key, analysis means 320 for analyzing a binary signal indicated by the signal, search means 330 for searching a specific key provided in the remote controller 100 and depression of which is designated next, based on the analysis results by the analysis means 320 and the remote control code data, and setting means 340 for setting the model information in a SGW400, after identifying the model to be controlled by the remote controller 100 based on a signal transmitted when the specific key searched by the search means 330 is depressed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information setting device and an information collecting system using the same, and more particularly to an information setting device such as a television receiver controlled by a remote controller and an information collecting system using the information setting device.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a so-called learning remote controller, in which a head of a remote controller transmission unit to be stored and a head of a remote controller reception unit of a universal remote controller face each other, and a predetermined remote controller transmission unit has a predetermined one. It is shown that when the key is pressed, the data aggregate corresponding to the remote controller transmission unit is copied and stored from the database server to the memory of the universal remote controller. That is, in Patent Document 1, all desired data series are stored in a memory by operating one key of the remote controller transmission unit.

Japanese Patent No. 3482319

  However, since the universal remote controller disclosed in Patent Document 1 stores all desired data series in the memory, it is necessary for the user to actually specify the data of the remote controller transmission unit itself thereafter. is there.

  There are a number of remote controllers such as television receivers manufactured and sold by the same manufacturer. In particular, even with the same model of television receiver, etc. May be provided. For this reason, it may be difficult for the user to correctly select the data of the remote controller transmission unit itself.

  Therefore, the present invention does not allow the user to select the desired data after storing all the desired data series in the memory, but by utilizing the data series (remote control code data) well, It is an object to enable correct setting of the remote controller by simply performing a simple input operation.

In order to solve the above problems, the information setting device of the present invention provides:
Means for instructing to press a key provided in the remote controller and receiving a signal transmitted when the key is pressed (for example, user interface means 310 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for analyzing the signal (for example, analysis means 320 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for searching for a specific key for instructing the next press among keys provided in the remote controller based on the result of the analysis and remote control code data (for example, search means 330 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for specifying a model to be controlled by the remote controller based on a signal transmitted by pressing the searched specific key (for example, means for carrying out steps S15 to S19 shown in FIG. 5);
Is provided.

The information setting device of the present invention is
Means for instructing to press a power key provided in the remote controller (for example, user interface means 310 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for receiving a signal corresponding to the power key transmitted when the power key is pressed (for example, user interface means 310 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for analyzing a custom code included in a signal corresponding to the received power key based on remote control code data (for example, analysis means 320 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for specifying a key corresponding to a unique data code among the remote controller code data to which the custom code is assigned (for example, search means 330 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for instructing to press the identified key (for example, user interface means 310 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for receiving a signal corresponding to the specific key transmitted by pressing the specific key (for example, user interface means 310 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for analyzing a data code included in a signal corresponding to the received specific key (for example, analysis means 320 shown in FIG. 2);
Means for determining whether or not a model to be controlled by the remote controller can be specified based on the analyzed data code (for example, means for carrying out steps S15 to S19 shown in FIG. 5);
Is provided.

  The information setting device may be built in a gateway (for example, SGW 500 shown in FIG. 1) capable of remotely controlling the device, or may be externally attached thereto.

  Examples of the device include a television receiver (for example, the television 200 shown in FIG. 1), a lighting device, a floor sensor that can be attached to a nursing bed, a window, a door, a curtain, a refrigerator with a variable temperature setting, and the like. It can be set as the various apparatuses containing the electric appliance of this, the charging device of a plug-in electric vehicle, etc.

  The device may be remotely controlled by a communication device such as a smartphone.

The information collection system of the present invention includes:
The information setting device (for example, the information setting device 300 shown in FIG. 1);
A gateway (for example, SGW 500 shown in FIG. 1) capable of remotely controlling the device;
A server (for example, the cloud server 600 shown in FIG. 1) that stores information indicating an instruction to the device when the device is controlled through the remote controller (for example, the remote controller 100 shown in FIG. 1) or the gateway; Is provided.

It is an outline explanatory view of an information collection system of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the typical internal structure of the information setting apparatus 300 shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the data stored in the database built in the information setting apparatus 300 shown in FIG. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the method of specifying the maker and model of the television 200 with the remote control 100 shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the information setting apparatus 300 shown in FIG.

100 Remote controller (remote control)
200 TV receiver (TV)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 Information setting apparatus 310 User interface means 320 Analysis means 330 Search means 340 Setting means 400 Service gateway (SGW)
500 Modem router 600 Cloud server 700 Internet

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an information collection system according to an embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 1, a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as “remote controller”) 100, a television receiver (hereinafter referred to as “TV”) 200, an information setting device 300, a service gateway (described below), which will be described below. Service Gateway (SGW) 400, modem router 500, cloud server 600, and Internet 700 are shown.

  The remote control 100 is for remotely controlling the television 200. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, a so-called infrared remote controller that remotely controls the TV 200 will be described as an example. Sensors, switching devices such as windows, doors or curtains, various devices managed by HEMS (Home Energy Management System) including electric appliances such as refrigerators with variable temperature settings, charging devices for plug-in electric vehicles, etc. It is done. The type of the remote controller 100 is not limited to an infrared remote controller, but may be a remote controller (RF remote controller) that transmits signals wirelessly such as radio waves, and even a remote controller that can receive signals transmitted from the television 200. Good.

  The television 200 receives a television program transmitted from a television broadcasting station and outputs a video signal and an audio signal related to the television program from a display and a speaker. Further, when the remote controller 100 is an infrared remote controller, the television 200 stores a storage medium that stores data indicating the type of remote control information transmitted by a signal transmitted from the remote controller 100 together with data indicating the reception date and time. I have. Data stored in the storage medium is read out periodically or irregularly upon request from the SGW 400, or can be output to the SGW 400 via a wired connection or a wireless connection. The storage medium and the output means to the SGW 400 are not limited to those built in the television 200, and may be externally attached to the television 200.

  The information setting device 300 has a database storing remote control code data, identifies the manufacturer and model of the television 200 based on the signal transmitted from the remote control 100 and the remote control code data, and stores the information in the SGW 400. Is set to In order to be able to specify various manufacturers and models, the remote control code data is for the TV remote control of the main model of the main manufacturer.

  The SGW 400 is connected to the television 200, the information setting device 300, and the modem router 500, and remotely controls the television 200 like the remote controller 100. Similarly to the information setting device 300, the SGW 400 also stores remote control code data of TV remote controllers for main models of major manufacturers so that it can be used for TVs of various manufacturers and models.

  In addition, an instruction can be transmitted to the television 200 via a wireless local area network communication such as Wi-Fi and SGW 400 from a communication device such as a smartphone, a tablet, or a personal computer (not shown). That is, a smartphone or the like can be used as a so-called remote controller. In this case, an instruction signal for controlling the television 200 transmitted from a smartphone or the like may be received by the modem router 500, then output to the SGW 400, and transmitted from the SGW 400 to the television 200.

  Therefore, for example, when a user outside the house operates a smartphone or the like to turn on / off the power of the TV 200, or when the TV 200 has a hard disk, the TV program is recorded on the hard disk. Reservation can be instructed.

  In addition, when the remote controller 200 is an RF remote controller, the SGW 400 stores data indicating the type of remote control information transmitted from the remote controller 100 or from a smartphone together with data indicating the reception date and time. Is provided. Further, the data stored in the storage medium is updated when the same kind of data as described above, which is output from the storage medium included in the television 200, is input.

  The SGW 400 reads the data from the storage medium regularly or irregularly and transmits the data to the cloud server 600 via the modem router 500 and the Internet 700. In the cloud server 600, if data transmitted from each home or the like is accumulated, big data can be created for the lifestyle associated with the television of the television user at each home or the like.

  In addition, instead of transmitting the data stored in the storage medium of the television 200 to the cloud server 600 via the SGW 400, if the television 200 is connected to the Internet 700, the cloud server 600 may use the television 200 as necessary. 200 and SGW 400 are associated with the same user, the data is transmitted from TV 200 to cloud server 600, and the data from SGW 400 stored in association with cloud server 600 is stored. Alternatively, a process of overwriting with data from the television 200 may be performed.

  In addition, the remote controller 100 usually has a lot of batteries using a dry battery as a power source, but there are also those using a storage battery as a power source. This type of remote controller 100 is used after the storage battery is charged through a charger called a station. In view of such circumstances, the remote control 100 is provided with a storage medium for storing data indicating the type of remote control information as described above, and the data is read from the storage medium during charging of the remote control 100 and stored in the station. The data may be output and transmitted from the station to the SGW 400.

  The modem router 500 connects the SGW 400 located downstream and the Internet 700 located upstream. The modem router 500 is a modem with a router function such that, when an instruction for controlling the television 200 is transmitted from a smartphone or the like, the instruction is received and routed to the SGW 400.

  The modem router 500 can receive an instruction from a smartphone or the like not only via wireless local area network communication such as Wi-Fi but also via the Internet 700. Instead of the modem router 500, separate hardware such as a modem and a router may be prepared, and the above operations may be realized by using those connected to each other.

  In this embodiment, by transmitting the manufacturer and model of the television 200 set in the SGW 400 to the smartphone or the like through the modem router 500, the user does not set the manufacturer and model of the television to be controlled in the smartphone or the like. It has been done so.

  Specifically, TV remote control application software that can be installed on smartphones and the like, and remote control code data related to major manufacturers and major models of TVs are prepared, and these are installed on smartphones and the like. After the installation, the SGW 400 may be accessed from a smartphone or the like according to a user instruction or triggered by the installation, and the setting information of the television 200 may be loaded from the SGW 400.

  The application software displays a virtual button corresponding to a power button or the like on a display such as a smartphone. When a specific area of the display is touched by the user with the virtual button displayed, if the remote control 100 is a so-called infrared remote control, an instruction to output a signal corresponding to that area to the television 200 by infrared rays is given. Information to be transmitted to the SGW 400 from a smartphone or the like. And SGW400 which received this should just output the said signal with respect to television 200 by infrared rays.

  In addition, since the SGW 400 and the modem router 500 are usually connected at physically close positions, for example, wired connection such as cable communication or wired LAN communication may be used. However, these can also be connected by wireless communication.

  The connection between the SGW 400 and the television 200 can be performed by infrared communication. However, as described above, even if there is a physical obstacle in the communication path between them, the communication can be performed as RF communication. For example, various standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) communication, ZigBee (registered trademark) communication, sub-G communication (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy: registered trademark) communication, etc. It is good to carry out by communication based on.

  As described above, the cloud server 600 is used for creating big data. In addition to this, when a new TV and a remote control associated therewith appear, register remote control code data of the remote control, By transmitting to the SGW 400, the remote control code data in the SGW 400 can be updated.

  The Internet 700 is connected to the modem router 500 and the cloud server 600, and is a network that becomes a communication network when a smartphone or the like and the modem router 500 cannot be connected by W-LAN communication.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic internal configuration of the information setting device 300 shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, a display or a microphone for instructing to press a key provided on the remote control 10 and a signal transmitted from the remote control 100 when the user presses any key provided on the remote control 10. The user interface means 310 for receiving the signal, the analysis means 320 for analyzing the signal received by the user interface means 310, the user's next press based on the analysis result and the remote control code data output from the analysis means 320 A search unit 330 that searches for a specific key to be instructed and a setting unit 340 that sets model information specified by pressing the specific key searched by the search unit 330 to the SGW 400 are shown.

  Next, an outline of how to improve user convenience when setting information from the remote controller 100 to the SGW 400 using the information setting device 300 shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

  FIG. 3A to FIG. 3F are diagrams showing a configuration example of remote control code data stored in a database built in the information setting device 300 shown in FIG. FIGS. 3A to 3F show six types of data in which “key names” of various keys provided in the remote controller 100 and “remote control code” data corresponding to them are paired. Is shown.

  Here, FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C show data of different models, although all manufacturers are the same. Normally, each manufacturer assigns the same remote control code data to the power key. Therefore, in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, the remote control code data “AA-AA” for the “power key” is shown. Shows an example in which is assigned.

  Similarly, FIG. 3 (e) and FIG. 3 (f) also show data of different models although all manufacturers are the same. FIG. 3D shows data different from the manufacturer related to the data shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, 3E, and 3F.

  As can be seen by comparing FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, for example, the remote control code data assigned to “1 key” is “AA-01” for the former, and the latter The thing is "AB-01". That is, the remote control code data according to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is the same for the “power key” but is different for the “1 key”.

  Similarly, when FIG. 3A is compared with FIG. 3C, the remote control code data in the remote control according to FIGS. 3A and 3C is “power key” to “1 key” or the like. However, the “input switching key” is different.

  3 (e) and FIG. 3 (f) are compared, the remote control code data in the remote control according to FIG. 3 (f) is “multiple” with respect to the remote control code data in the remote control according to FIG. 3 (e). With the addition of “key”, only “BB-B3” corresponding thereto is added. When there is such a slight difference, it is difficult for the user to select any remote control code data accurately.

  In particular, since the manufacturer should have a desire to know the frequency of use of the newly added “multi-key”, the remote control code data shown in FIG. If the remote control code data shown in FIG. 3 (f) is erroneously selected by the user, the data that the user has not used the “multi-key” is transmitted to the cloud server 600, The reliability such as the use frequency is reduced.

  4A to 4C are explanatory diagrams of a method for specifying the manufacturer and model of the television 200 by the remote controller 100. FIG. FIGS. 4A to 4C show data extracted from some of the data shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, respectively. Hereinafter, for example, a method for specifying the remote control code data shown in FIG. 3A when the remote control 100 is assigned will be described.

  First, when the user presses the “power key” provided on the remote controller 100, a signal including remote control code data “AA-AA” is transmitted from the remote controller 100. For this reason, among the data shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F, the data shown in FIGS. 3D to 3F is filtered (FIG. 4A).

  Next, the remote control code data of the data shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C remaining without being filtered are compared with each other. Here, unlike the case of FIGS. 3A and 3C, the unique remote control code data “AB-01” is assigned to the “1 key” of FIG. 3B. Therefore, the key to which the unique remote control code data is assigned can be specified as “1 key” (FIG. 4B).

  The user presses the “1 key” which is a specific key provided on the remote controller 100. Thereby, it can be determined whether or not a signal including the unique remote control code data “AB-01” assigned to “1 key” is transmitted from the remote control 100.

  As a result of the determination, in this example, since the signal does not include the unique remote control code data “AB-01”, the data shown in FIG. 3B including this is filtered and the remaining FIG. ) And the remote control code data of FIG. 3C are compared with each other.

  The unique input code “AA-A1” / “AB-A1” is assigned to the “input switching key” in FIG. 3A / FIG. 3C. By pressing the “switch key”, it is possible to specify that the key to which the unique remote control code data is assigned is the “input switch key” (FIG. 4C).

  Specifically, when the user presses the “input switching key”, the signal includes any of the unique remote control code data “AA-A1” / “AB-A1” assigned to the “input switching key”. Is transmitted from the remote controller.

  In this example, as a result of the determination, the signal includes the unique remote control code data “AA-A1”. Therefore, the remote control 100 operated by the user is connected to the television receiver related to the data of FIG. It can be specified whether it is a thing.

  If the remote control code data shown in FIG. 3B is assigned to the remote controller 100, the user presses the “1 key” on the remote controller 100, so that the remote controller 100 is assigned to the “1 key”. Since the signal including the unique remote control code data “AB-01” is transmitted from the remote control 100, it is specified whether the remote control 100 is of the television receiver related to the data of FIG. be able to.

  If the remote control code data shown in FIG. 3C is assigned to the remote controller 100, the user presses the “input switch key” on the remote controller 100, resulting in the “input switch key”. Since a signal including the assigned unique remote control code data “AB-A1” is transmitted from the remote control 100, it is determined whether the remote control 100 is of the television receiver related to the data of FIG. Can be identified.

  Subsequently, the operation of the information setting apparatus 300 for specifically performing the contents of the above-described outline description will be described.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information setting apparatus 300 shown in FIG. First, in the information setting device 300, the user interface means 310 displays characters such as “Please turn the signal transmission part of the remote control toward the light receiving part and press the“ power key ”” on a display (not shown). Then, the user is instructed to press the power key of the remote controller 100 (step S11).

  In response to this, when the user presses the “power key” while pointing the signal transmission unit of the remote control 100 toward the light receiving unit of the information setting device 300, infrared light corresponding to the “power key” is transmitted from the signal transmission unit of the remote control 100. Is done. The information setting device 300 receives a signal transmitted by infrared rays from the remote controller 100 by the light receiving unit (step S12).

  Next, the information setting device 300 outputs the signal received by the light receiving unit to the analysis unit 320. When the signal output from the light receiving unit is input, the analysis unit 320 performs an analysis for acquiring a custom code included in the signal (step S13).

  Usually, since the custom code uses a unique code for each manufacturer, the manufacturer of the television 200 to be controlled by the remote controller 100 can be specified by acquiring the custom code (step S14).

  Next, in the information setting device 300, the analysis unit 320 outputs the custom code used by the manufacturer to the search unit 330. The searching means 330 searches for a specific key to be instructed to be pressed by the user with reference to the remote control code data based on the custom code output from the analyzing means 320 (step S15).

  As a precaution, in the example described with reference to FIG. 4, “1 key” is searched as a specific key by executing step S15. Thereafter, the user interface unit 310 displays characters such as “please point the signal transmission unit of the remote control at the light receiving unit and press the power“ 1 key ”” on the display (not shown), thereby giving the remote control to the user. An instruction is given to press the “1 key” of 100 (step S16).

  In response to this, when the user points the signal transmission unit of the remote control 100 toward the light receiving unit and presses “1 key”, a signal corresponding to “1 key” is transmitted from the signal transmission unit of the remote control 100. The information setting device 300 receives a signal transmitted from the remote controller 100 using infrared rays by the light receiving unit (step S17).

  Next, the information setting device 300 outputs the signal received by the light receiving unit to the analysis unit 320. When the analysis unit 320 receives the signal output from the light receiving unit, the analysis unit 320 analyzes the data code included in the signal (step S18).

  The data code is assigned so as to be unique for each model when viewed as a whole key. On the other hand, when attention is paid to a specific key, the data code is shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (c). For example, there is a case where a unique code is not assigned to the specific key itself, such as a remote control code of “AA-01” assigned to any “1 key”.

  Therefore, it is determined whether or not the user who has received the instruction in step S16 can identify the model of the television 200 to be controlled by the remote controller 100, based on a signal transmitted by pressing the specific key ( Step S19).

  As a result of the determination, if the model of the television 200 has not been specified, the data shown in FIG. 4B is filtered in the example below using FIG. 4, and then the process proceeds to step S15. Thereafter, the processing of step S15 to step S19 is repeated until the model is identified. Thereafter, when the model of the television 200 can be specified, the setting unit 340 sets the specified model information in the SGW 400 (step S20).

According to the method described above, the user only presses the key of the remote controller 100 according to the instruction of the information setting device 300 only about 2 to 3 times, and the control target by the remote controller 100 is set to the television 200 with respect to the SGW 400. Can be set.

  Further, when the convenience of user settings is improved in this way, the number of users of the information collection system of the present embodiment increases, so that big data can be easily created by the cloud server 600.

  Note that big data is added to the television 200 through the remote controller 100 and the like such as information on the manufacturer and model of the television 200 purchased by the user, information on the channel operation of the user, and information on recording settings. Various information regarding remote control can be included.

  Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to easily check each piece of information itself, such as a TV program audience rating check, and to easily check the correlation between various pieces of information.

Claims (6)

Means for instructing to press a key provided in the remote controller and receiving a signal transmitted when the key is pressed;
Means for analyzing the signal;
Means for searching for a specific key for instructing next pressing among keys provided in the remote controller based on the result of the analysis and remote control code data;
Means for specifying a model to be controlled by the remote controller based on a signal transmitted by pressing the searched specific key;
An information setting device comprising: Means for instructing to press the power key provided in the remote controller;
Means for receiving a signal corresponding to the power key transmitted when the power key is pressed;
Means for analyzing a custom code included in a signal corresponding to the received power key based on remote control code data;
Means for identifying a key corresponding to a unique data code among the remote controller code data to which the custom code is assigned;
Means for instructing pressing of the identified key;
Means for receiving a signal corresponding to the specific key transmitted by pressing the specific key;
Means for analyzing a data code included in a signal corresponding to the received specific key;
Means for determining whether or not a model to be controlled by the remote controller can be specified based on the analyzed data code;
An information setting device comprising:   The information setting device according to claim 1, wherein the device is built in or externally attached to a gateway capable of remotely controlling the device.   3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a television receiver, a lighting device, a floor sensor, a window, a door or a curtain opening / closing device, a refrigerator having a variable temperature setting, or a plug-in electric vehicle charging device. Information setting device.   The information setting device according to claim 1, wherein the device is remotely controlled by a communication device. The information setting device according to claim 1 or 2,
A gateway capable of remotely controlling the device;
A server that stores information indicating an instruction to the device when the device is controlled through the remote controller or the gateway;
An information collection system comprising: